The governor is not making any promises about whether he will veto or sign a bill that would take away his ability to appoint the Department of Natural Resources secretary.
Governor Jim Doyle says he's not making any decisions yet on what he'd do with the bill, which allows the Natural Resources Board to name the DNR secretary. The measure was introduced in the Legislature this week.
Doyle recently changed his position on the subject, saying the power to name the secretary should remain with him. The governor says the change in heart came after realizing how much more the DNR can accomplish when it has the power of his office behind it. He says much of what the agency has been able to do in recent years is due to the secretary having the full support of the governor.
However, supporters of the measure say it is needed to prevent politics from influencing the important decisions about the state's natural resources that are made by the agency.
The proposed bill has strong bipartisan support and is expected to easily pass the Legislature.